WJ cranking and starting issues

[ChestonScout]

Neighbor of mine just got an 04 WJ with the 4.0. 107k miles. Clean little unit.



Couple weeks after he got it, went and turned the key and it wont crank. Lights, radio etc turn on but it wont crank. Go back out a hour later and it fires right up.

He called me to help. The battery cables and terminals were in bad shape. So we replaced the terminals and cut the cables back to where they were clean. Didnt have an issue for a few days then its back to its old tricks.



Do these have the neutral safety switch issues the older XJs have? I had him try to start it in neutral with no luck

Any other ideas?

Normally I would just suggest them send it to a shop. But they are a good family so I want to try to help. I have been over 3 different times and of course it fires right up when I look at it

Thanks RME!

 

[chans]

Have you checked the cables at the starter and relay? I had this issue with my truck and got rid of it the first time when I loosened the main power cable at the starter and wiggled it around and tightened it back up. And a few months later had to redo the connection to the starter relay under the hood.

 

[ChestonScout]

I looked at them and checked voltage at the starter. Might be worth pulling them off and cleaning

 

[gertsch]

Sally my 97 tj did this to me once. I ended up replacing the started and never had an issue again. Not saying that the fix but it was for me. It was weird. I had it tested and it checked out fine. But I replaced it anyways and no more issues.

 

[corbin.black]

I had the same problem on my 04 WJ last year. (although mine is a 4.7)I torn into the electrical system to find nothing.. then I read online that it was probably the wire connection to the starter.So i crawled under the jeep and tapped the wires on the starter and everything was back to normal. apparently the wires find a "dead" spot and need to be re-seated for a better connection on the starter.I have a 04 4.7 and 04 4.0 and they both have had random wire issues like this

 

[ChestonScout]

Update.....


after fighting this thing he finally took it to a shop. turns out it had a remote start that we didnt know about. it was malfunctioning.

all is well now